17alpha-(2-alkynyl)estra-1, 3, 5(10)-triene-3, 17beta-diols and esters corresponding



United States Patent 3,210,390 17a-(2-ALKYNYL)ESTRA-1,3,5(10)-TRIENE-3,17,B- DIOLS AND ESTERS CORRESPONDING Sybil Piskur Meloy, Chicago, Ill.

(212 E. Kathleen Drive, Park Ridge, Ill.)

No Drawing. Filed Aug. 19, 1964, Ser. No 390,718 12 Claims. (Cl. 260-3975) The present invention relates to 17-alkynylated steroids wherein the alkynyl group is unsaturated at a point two carbon atoms removed from the l7-carbon atom. More particularly, these novel compounds are 17a-(2-alkyny1) estra-1,3,5()-tr.iene 3,17/3-diols and the corresponding esters represented by the following structural formula wherein R and R can be hydrogen or a lower alkanoyl radical, and X is either hydrogen or a lower alkyl radical.

Examples of lower alkanoyl radicals encompassed by the R and R terms are acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, valeryl, caproyl, and the branched-chain radicals isomeric therewith.

The lower alkyl radicals designated in the foregoing representation by X are exemplified by methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, and the branched-chain isomer-s thereof.

The compounds of this invention are conveniently produced by reaction of 3-hydroxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17- one or a 3-(lower alkanoate) thereof with a suitable organometallic reagent wherein the organic portion is a lower 2-alkynyl radical. Examples of suitable reagents are 2-butynyl magnesium bromide and 2-propynyl zinc bromide. Illustrative of this process are the reactions of 3-hydroxyestra-1,3,5 (10)-trien l7 one with 3-bromo-lpropyne and zinc in tetrahydr-ofuran followed by acidic decomposition of the .adduct to afford 17u-(2-propynyl)- estra-l,3,5(10)-triene-3,17;3-diol and also the reaction of 3-hydroxyestra-1,3,5 (10)-trien 17 one with 2 butynyl magnesium bromide in ether to yield l7oc(2butynyl)- estra-1,3,5-( 10) -triene-3,17,8-diol.

Acylation of the instant 3,17-diols with a lower alkanoic acid anhydride or halide at room temperature, preferably in the presence of a suitable acid acceptor, affords the corresponding 3-(lower alkanoyl)oxy compounds while reaction of those diols with an isopropenyl ester at elevated temperature in the presence of an acid catalyst results in the 3,17-bis[(lower alkanoyl)oxy] derivatives. Illustrative of those processes is the reaction of 1706-(2- butyny1)estra1,3,5(10)-triene-3,l7[i-diol with acetic anhydride and pyridine to afford 17u-(2-butynyl)estra- 1,3,5(l0)-triene-3,17B-diol 3-acetate and the acylation of 17a-(2 propynyl)estra 1,3,5 (10)-.triene-3,17B-diol with isopropenyl acetate in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid to produce 17a- (2-butyny1)estra-1,3,5(l0)triene- 3,l7,8-diol 3,17-diacetate.

Selective hydrolysis of the aforementioned 3,17-bis- [(lower alkanoyl)oxy] derivatives results in the instant 17-mon0-(lower alkanoates). 17a (2 propynyl)estra- 1,3,5 (l0)-.triene-3,17fidiol 3,17-diacetate, for example, is heated with aqueous potassium carbonate in an organic solvent medium of acetone and methanol to produce 17a- 3 ,210,390 Patented Oct. 5, 1965 (2-propynyl)estra-l,3,5(10)-triene-3,17B-diol 17-acetate.

The compounds of this invention are useful in consequence of their valuable pharmacological properties. They are hormonal agents, for example, in view of their potent estrogenic properties and also their deciduogenic activity as evidenced by the ability to induce uterine endometrial decidual cell formation. The instant compounds are useful also as intermediates in the manufacture of the corresponding 17oc-(2-alkenyl) substances described in U.S. Patent 3,107,257. 17a-(2-butynyl)estra- 1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17B-diol 3-acetate, for example, is hydrogenated in pyridine solution utilizing a 5% palladiumon-carbon catalyst to yield l7a-(2-butenyl)estra-1,3,5 (10)-triene-3 ,17,8-dio13-acetatev The invention will appear more fully from the examples which follow. These examples are given by way of illustration only, and it will be understood that the invention is not to be construed as limited in spirit or in scope by the details contained therein as many modifications in materials and methods will be apparent from this disclosure to those skilled in the art. In these exam- :ples, temperatures are given in degrees centigrade C.) and quantities of materials in parts by weight unless otherwise noted.

Example 1 To a refluxing mixture of 27 parts of 3-hydroxy-estral,3,5(10)-trien-17-one, 33 parts of zinc metal, and 450 parts of .tetrahydrofuran is added dropwise, with stirring, 60 parts of 3-bromo-l-propyne. The reaction mixture is then stirred at the reflux temperature for an additional minutes following which time it is cooled, and the supernatant is decanted into a mixture of 2000 parts of water containing parts of concentrated hydrochloric acid. That aqueous acidic mixture is extracted with chloroform, and the organic layer is separated, washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and stripped of solvent by distillation under reduced pressure. The resulting brown gummy residue is dissolved in a mixture of parts of ethanol containing 52.5 parts of acetic acid, and 7.5 parts of Girards-T reagent is added to that solution. That mixture is heated at the reflux temperature for about 30 minutes, then is cooled and poured into ice Water. Extraction with a mixture of chloroform and isopropyl alcohol affords a solution which is dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated to dryness at reduced pressure. The dark brown residue is washed with benzene, then is chromatographed on a silica gel column and eluted with 720% ethyl acetate in benzene mixtures. Further purification by dissolution in ether, decolorization of that ether solution with activated carbon, concentration to dryness and recrystallization from acetone-heptane affords pure 17u-(2propynyl)estra-l,3,5(10)-triene-3,17B-diol, melting at about 162-165". It displays an optical rotation of +44 in chloroform and an ultraviolet absorption maximum at about 280.5 millimicrons with a molecular extinction coefficient of about 1980. This compound can be represented by the following structural formula 011 -crnozon Example 2 A mixture of 1.2 parts of 170: (2 propynyl)estra- 1,3,5 (l)-triene-3,l7fi-diol, parts of acetic anhydride, and 3 parts of pyridine is allowed to stand at room temperature for about 16 hours, then is poured carefully into water. The resulting precipitate is collected by filtration, washed on the filter with water and recrystallized from acetone-hexane to yield needle-like crystals of 170c- (2-propynyl)estra-1,3,5 triene-3,17;3-diol 3-acetate, melting at about 167-169. This compound is further characterized by an optical rotation of +38 in chloro- :form and is represented by the following structural formula Example 3 A mixture of one part of 17a (2 propynyl)estra- 1,3,5('10)-triene-3,17,8-diol, 18.4 parts of isopropenyl ace tate and 0.15 part of p-tolenesulfonic acid is slowly distilled over a period of about 9 hours. The reaction mixture is then cooled, and diluted with ether. That organic solution is washed successively with water, dilute aqueous sodium carbonate, and water, then dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate containing activated carbon and stripped of solvent at reduced pressure. The resulting oily residue is recrystallized twice from methanol to afford pure 17a- (2-propynyl)estra 1,3,5(10) triene 3,175 diol 3,17- diacetate, melting at about 140-141". This compound is characterized further by an optical rotation, in chloroform, of +26, by an ultraviolet absorption maximum, in chloroform, at about 275 millimicrons with a molecular extinction coeflicient of about 710 and also by the following structural formula oniozon Example 4 To a mixture of 5.4 parts of magnesium turnings and 0.27 part of mercuric chloride with 140 parts of ether is added a solution of 27 parts of 1-brorno-2-butyne in 35 parts of ether. The addition is carried out with cooling and stirring in an atmosphere of nitrogen. After stirring for about 3 hours longer, a solution of 13.5 parts of 3-hydroxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien 17 one in 450 parts of tetrahydrofuran is added dropwise with stirring over a period of about 2 hours. Stirring is continued with cooling by means of a cold water bath for an additional 2 hours, after which time the reaction mixture is stored at room temperature for about 16 hours. This reaction mixture is heated at the reflux temperature with stirring for about 3 hours, then cooled and diluted with 40 parts by volume of saturated aqueous ammonium chloride and approximately 30 parts or solid sodium sulfate. The resulting mixture is filtered, and the filter cake is washed with ether. Evaporation of the filtrate to dryness under reduced pressure affords a brown, gummy residue which is dissolved in approximately 150 parts by volume of ethanol in acetic acid. To that solution is added 7.5 parts of Girards-T reagent, and that mixture is heated at the reflux temperature for about 45 minutes, then cooled and poured into a mixture of ice and water. The resulting aqueous mixture is extracted with chloroform, and the organic layer is separated, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and stripped of solvent at reduced pressure. The resulting solid residue containing 17oz (2- butynyl)estra 1,3,5 (10) triene 3,1719 diol is dissolved in a mixture of parts of pyridine and 10 parts of acetic anhydride and allowed to stand at room temperature for about 16 hours. This reaction mixture is then diluted with approximately 1000 parts of cold water, and the resulting aqueous mixture is extracted with ether. The ether extract is separated, washed successively with dilute hydrochloric acid, 5% aqueous sodium bicarbonate, and water, then dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate containing activated carbon and distilled to dryness under reduced pressure. Crystallization of the resulting residue from methanol affords 17oz (2 butynyl)estra 1,3,5 l0)- triene-3,l7B-diol 3-acetate, melting at about 157159.5. Further purification by recrystallization from acetonehexane affords material melting at about 159-161". This compound is characterized further by ultraviolet absorption maxima, in methanol, at about 267.5 and 275 millimicrons with molecular extinction coefiicients of about 770 and 750, respectively. It exhibits an optical rotation, in chloroform, of +35.5 and is represented by the following structural formula Example 5 A mixture of 3 parts of 17ot-(2-butynyl)estra-1,3,5- (10)-triene-3,17fi-diol 3-acetate, 1.5 parts of anhydrous potassium carbonate, and 80 parts of ethanol is heated at the reflux temperature for about 45 minutes, "then is cooled and diluted with water until homogeneous. The resulting mixture is poured into approximately 500 parts by volume of 2% aqueous ammonium chloride, and the resulting precipitated product is collected by filtration, dried in air, then dissolved in a mixture of ether and ethyl acetate. The resulting organic solution is dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate containing activated carbon, then is stripped of solvent at reduced pressure to yield (2-butynyl)estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17[3-diol, melting at about 180. Recrystallization of that product from acetone-hexane affords the pure material, melting at about 181-1825", and displaying an ultraviolet absorption maximum at about 280 rnillimicrons with a molecular extinction coeflicient of about 2080. It displays also an optical rotation of +33.5 and is characterized further by the following structural formula Example 6 The substitution of equivalent quantities of l-bromo- 2-pentyne and propionic anhydride for 1-bromo-2-butyne and acetic anhydride, respectively, in the procedure of Example 4 results in 17ot-(2-pentynyl)estra-l,3,5(10)-triene-3,17fl-diol 3propionate.

Example 7 By substituting an equivalent quantity of propionic anhydride and otherwise proceeding according to the proc esses described in Example 2, 17a-(2-propynyl)estra-1,3,

5(10)-triene-3,17p-diol 3-propionate is obtained.

Example 8 The saponification of an equivalent quantity of 17a-(2- pentynyl)estra 1,3,5 ()-triene-3,17 3-diol 3-propionate by the procedure described in Example 5 results in 17a- (2-pentynyl)estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17fl-diol.

Example 9 By substituting an equivalent quantity of isopropenyl propionate and otherwise proceeding according to the processes described in Example 3, 17a-(2-propynyl)estra- 1,3,5(10)-triene-3,l7[3-di0l, 3,17-dipropionate is obtained.

Example 10 By substituting an equivalent quantity of 17u-(2- butynyl)estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17;6-diol and otherwise proceeding according to the processes described in Example 3, 17a-(2-butynyl)estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17fi-diol 3,17-diacetate is obtained.

Example 11 The reaction of equivalent quantities of 17u-(2-pentynyl)estra 1,3,5 (10)-triene'3,17,8-diol and isopropenyl propionate by the procedure described in Example 3 results in 17a-(2-pentynyl)estra-l,3,5 (10)-triene-3,17,8-diol 3,17-dipropionate.

Example 12 To a solution of 1.5 parts of 17u-(2-butynyl)estra-1,3, 5(10)-triene-3,l7fi-diol 3-acetate in 40 parts of pyridine is added 0.15 part of 5% palladiumon-carbon catalyst, and the resulting mixture is shaken in a hydrogen atmosphere at atmospheric pressure and room temperature until one molecular equivalent of hydrogen is absorbed. The catalyst" is removed by filtration, and the filtrate is stripped of solvent by distillation at reduced pressure. The resulting residue is dissolved in a 1:1 mixture of benzene and hexane; then is chromatographed on a silica gel column. Elution of the column with 20% ethyl acetate in benzene aifords a fraction which is dissolved in ether, decolorized by treatment of that solution with activated carbon, then recrystallized from heptane to afford pure 17u-(2-buteny1)estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17Bdio1 3-acetate, melting at about 85-86. Ultraviolet absorption maxima are observedat about 267.5 and 275 millimicrons with molecular extinction coefficients of about 795 and 765, repectively. It displays also an optical rotation of +48".

Example 1 3 To a solution of 2 parts of 17a-(2-propynyl)estra-1,3, 5(10)-triene-3,17{3-diol 3,17-diacetate in 20 parts of acetone containing 8 parts of methanol is added a solution of one part of potassium carbonate in 10 parts of water, and the resulting reaction mixture is heated at 90-100 for about 15 minutes, then is allowed :to stand at room temperature for about minutes. The mixture is then diluted with water and extracted with ether. The organic layer is separated and stripped of solvent at reduced pressure to afford a solid residue. Crystallization from aqueous methanol affords 17u-(2-propynyl)estra-1,3,5 (10)-triene-3,17B-diol 17-acetate of the structural formula 0 o 0 CH3 -cmozorr HO-E What is claimed is: 1. A compound of the formula I jCHzCEC-X wherein X is selected from the group consisting of hydro gen and a lower alkyl radical, and R and R are members of the class consisting of hydrogen and a lower alkanoyl radical.

2. 17a (2-propynyl)estra-1,3,5(10)-tr.iene-3,17[3-diol. 3. A compound of the formula (lower alkyl) 3 0- acetate.

5. A compound of the formula ---orr,ozorr if (lower alkyl) C O- 6. 17cc (2-propynyl)estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17[3-diol 3-acetate.

7. A compound of the formula 8, 17a (2-butynyl)estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17,6-dio1. 9. A compound of the formula I i -cmczcn o & (lower alkyl) O 10. 17a (2-pr0pyny1)estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17fi-diol 3,17-diacetate.

11. A compound of the formula 0 C (lower alkyl) 11 (lower alkyl) C O- 12. 170: (2-butynyl)estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17fi-diol 3,17-diacetate.

20 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,666,769 1/54 Colton 260397.4 3,107,257 10/63 Counsell 260397.5 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA 